Midrange Stuff, OS/400 Edition

Baan Process Solutions has begun shipping the first of six planned modules that are designed to allow users of its ERP systems to collaborate more effectively with customers and suppliers over the Internet. The Customer Order Tracking module of the iBaan Collaboration suite integrates with Baan's OS/400-based ERP suite, PRISM, as well as its Windows-based ERP suite, Protean, and allows customers of Baan's clients to track the status of their orders using a Web browser.

PRISM is a suite of OS/400-bsed ERP software targeted at process manufacturers such as those in the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries. It was developed in the RPG programming language by an American company called Marcam Solutions, which Invensys, of England, acquired in May of 1999. Invensys also acquired struggling Dutch ERP software Baan during a period of financial trouble in the year 2000. In April of 2001, Invensys wrapped four of its acquired product lines--PRISM, Protean, Baan IV Process, and Baan Dimensions--into a new business unit called Baan Process Solutions. The new organization outlined its strategic direction at a user conference last year, and the iBaan Collaboration suite is the first direct result of that product roadmap.

Baan Process Solutions is taking a two-tier approach to rolling out the six new modules. The first three modules released will be targeted at improving manufacturers' relationships with their customers, while the last three will be targeted at improving manufacturer-supplier relations. With the Customer Order Tracking module now shipping, company officials say they're planning to roll out the next two customer-facing modules, by the beginning of 2003, before starting in on the supplier-side modules. The organization plans to deliver customer-side functionality such as Availability To Promise, order entry, quote entry and pricing, order problem ticketing, and sales order alerts and agents. Planned functionality on the buy-side (supplier-facing) includes purchase order publishing, change management, problem ticketing, purchase order alerts and agents, invoice publishing, and RFQ (request for quotation) posting.

To reduce software development costs, Baan Process Solutions is using a common Java-based framework to develop iBaan Collaboration for PRISM and iBaan Collaboration for Protean. The PRISM and Protean process ERP suites have very similar attributes and capabilities, company officials say, and despite some minor technological differences, the iBaan Collaboration applications are about the same.

Because iBaan Collaboration for PRISM framework is to be written in Java, it will run natively on AS/400 and iSeries servers, along with the required Java application server, such as IBM's WebSphere Application Server. Whereas Java will control the business logic, the company chose to deploy the database components of iBaan Collaboration solutions on a Windows server. Company officials say this was done to make it easier for customers to manage the application.

Baan Process Solutions' hybrid Java-Windows deployment strategy is a curious one, seeing as how most hybrid OS/400-Windows applications hitting the market these days, from vendors such as Siebel and Navision, are using the OS/400 server as the data store, while running the logic on the Windows server. The estimated 300 to 420 companies in North America that rely on PRISM will have to get used to the idea of running their iBaan Collaboration databases on Integrated xSeries Server or Integrated xSeries Adapter cards. The company provides a choice between the Oracle database and Microsoft SQL Server.

The goal with the iBaan Collaboration suite isn't to totally automate the interaction between customer and supplier, says Jay Galasso, vice president of marketing for Baan Process Solution. "The way we look at it, you're automating the things that can be automated, then providing tools to add interactivity for the things you can't automate," he says. "So the customer service representatives can work on the 5 percent [of orders] that can make a difference."

To that end, the iBaan Collaboration suite will ship with a variety of alarms that alert participants to exceptions in the ordering process. PRISM and Protean users with highly customized implementations may choose to work with a Java development component that will be available to customize their iBaan Collaboration systems. With the Customer Order Tracking module, customers will also be able to post questions and comments along with their orders, adding another degree of collaboration to the process, Galasso says.